Smart Dogs Training Academy

We adopted a 18 month old Bullmastiff from a family who treated him like a human who’s «favorite part of the couch was the corner on a sectional» and «sleeps inside the sheet on with a pillow on the bed». Jeff came in and trained him for 4 weeks. We met him at the park and Bane, our pup, was like a new dog. Jeff followed up, gave training, encouraged in home lessons and also provided a sheet of information on housebreaking. I highly recommend Smart Dogs! Professional, reasonable, communicative.

Jeff is the BEST! A friend recommended Smart Dogs when I was thinking about getting a puppy. Jeff took the time to answer all my questions & recommend the type of dogs that would fit in best with my lifestyle & family. I must admit that I was a little worried when we purchased our 3 month old yellow Labrador retriever weighing in at 30+lbs. Jeff took him in for slightly over a month, and all my fears went away as soon as he came home. We got back the most well-​behaved and happy puppy. Jeff knew exactly how to teach me the things I needed to know & gave us step-​by-​step instructions on how to manage life with a puppy, 1yr old & 3yr old. He continues to be part of our team with ongoing lessons, check-​ins & answering the questions that come up along the way. Thanks to Jeff, we have been able to smoothly introduce Scoobs into our family. Great guy & unbeatable service. I recommend Smart Dogs Training to anyone with (or thinking of getting) a dog.

We were about to find a new home for our terrier mix Nelson when we took him to Jeff for board and train. I am so glad we did! Within one week, we were able to walk Nelson without stress or tension. Within two weeks, we were able to enjoy Nelson as a fun part of the family without him tearing through the house, or constantly getting him off furniture. Jeff worked with my kids and I to help us be clear and consistent and stressed that we still needed to work and train Nelson, but he did so in a way that was simple, straightforward and easy for us to maintain. I had tried 2 other places for training prior to Jeff that just were not effective. I wish I had gone to him FIRST!

Jeff came highly recommended to us by friends who sent their «crazy» dog to him for training. We adopted a male adult schnauzer lab mix who is 75 lbs. the nicest dog but NOT trained– not housebroken at all and wild and crazy, and that didn’t work well with our two small kids. I was so upset not knowing what to do and knowing I couldn’t just have a trainer come once a week to work with our dog (we tried it a few times and it did nothing, in fact I really felt the dog was untrainable). So, we took our dog to Jeff who spent over an hour with us explaining how his program works, how dogs minds work and to tour his home. Both my husband and I felt very comfortable immediately. Jeff is super cool, and super smart and experienced. We left the dog and during the course of the 4 weeks he was there, Jeff always checked in with us with texts and pictures to let us know how the dog was doing. We had two lessons there before we brought the dog home and one once since at our house. The dog has been home for five days. We are SO impressed with what jeff has taught our dog and what he has taught us. We honestly couldn’t be happier. And, I know our dog was well taken care of because when Jeff came to our home, our dog was happy to see him. That was a real testament to the type of care he was given. I read the awful review one Unilocaler left and I just don’t understand it. There is a saying you can’t please everyone and I guess this is the exception. Whoever reads these reviews to decide if they want to use Jeff, please ignore that crazy review, it’s just impossible Jeff, who has 20 years of proven experience, would ever not take the best care of any dog he was responsible for. Thanks Jeff!

Jeff was recommended by a friend who swore by him. He started working with my labradoodle, Noodle, when he was several months old. He took the time to come to the house to see how I was doing things, then I sent Noodle to him for a month of «boot camp.» (You don’t have to do it this way, but I thought I’d give it a try.) I got back an amazing dog who still had his puppy spirit. Over the last couple years, I’ve taken Noodle to him for boarding — a bonus option only avail. for those who do training with him. Much more reasonable than another other boarding situation and he already knows my dog so well. While there, Jeff continues to work with my dog instead of just boarding and feeding him. He’s taken him to the park with other dogs he’s working with and reaffirms commands and leash training. Noodle always comes back better. And I know that my dog is happy to see Jeff. Even though Jeff is firm in his training techniques, he’s not unfair and he doesn’t mistreat. I know this because unlike when I take Noodle to the vet or to the groomer, he doesn’t get nervous and sheepish. He’s always happy and wagging when he sees Jeff. What better and clearer sign do I need than that?!
Many of us love our dogs so much that we can’t handle seeing them treated with a firm hand. And I see a couple negative reviews here that reflect that. I’m admittedly guilty about spoiling my dog shamelessly and regularly. But I am also able to see things objectively and know that my way isn’t always the best way. I’ve had other dogs with other training methods, and it took a whole lot longer and I spent more money.
All I know is the great results I’ve gotten, and a dog who still loves to see Jeff. I’d recommend him to anybody!

If I could give Jeff 6 star I would! Our 2 year old french bulldog was running our house and showing increasing signs of aggression. I met Jeff serendipitously at a café while I was having coffee with a friend. Ronnie (my dog) was barking at every dog that walked by and even tried to bite someone who pet him. I was so embarrassed and didn’t know what I was doing wrong. Jeff casually mentioned his services (not pushy at all) and I accepted his business card. It took me about 2 months to call Jeff. I thought my boyfriend and I could get our dog in check. Finally we had had enough and knew it was time to call him. I met Jeff for a free consultation at the park and we talked for almost an hour. Ronnie was tugging at the leash the entire time and wanting to chase every frisbee or dog that he saw. It was nightmare. Jeff explained his different types of training he offered and washer than confident Ronnie would come out successful. One week later we dropped Ronnie off for a 4 week in home training with Jeff. Each week we met with Jeff to see Ronnie’s progress and were astonished at how well he was listening and behaving. Even after the 4 weeks of training, Jeff met us for further lessons to ease our minds. Today, 5 weeks later and only 1 week after bringing Ronnie home, I brought him to work with me. He is happily and willingly laying in his bed. See are beyond grateful for the Jeff’s help. He not only trained our dog he trained us how to be better owners. I would recommend him to anyone!
— On a different note —
Speaking to the negative reviews. Yes, Jeff is a stern trainer but he loves animals and would never intentionally harm them. He was very direct with Ronnie because our dog is resilient and at times defiant. He will cater his training to suite you dogs temperament. He is not going to put a pinch collar on a submissive lapdog. He knows what he’s doing and if you trust him his methods do work.

I can’t really speak to Jeff’s long term efficacy as a trainer, just to our short experience with him which wasn’t very positive. First off, there are many different schools of thought and approaches to training. Jeff’s is mainly fear and respect based. He’s a hard-@ss with dogs and doesn’t exactly believe that love is the way. We paid him up front for two sessions at our home and halfway through the first one I put a stop to it as I didn’t feel that his approach was going to be effective for our super sweet and gentle — but stubborn — Rottie mix bitch. What happened next was the really weird and unsettling part. Jeff became somewhat abusive, told me that I had no idea the trouble I was in for, the danger this dog posed to my family and infant son etc. etc. and then stormed off in a huff. Repeated calls and emails to him to request a refund for the second lesson went unanswered.
Needless to say our Rottie remains sweet and loving and a superb friend and guardian to our now 4 year old son. She’s been trained by other, more gentle trainers, and while not a robot, is pretty awesome. And we didn’t have to be harsh to her to get her that way.

A few months ago my wife and i brought home an 8 week old German shepherd, we thought we could handle all the training and all other things that come with owning a puppy. Well, we were incredibly unprepared for this and were overwhelmed with how much work it was taking, we treated the puppy like a baby of our own. Spoiling and all other things the average pet owner does, for example clicker training, food training, over petting the dog, allowing the dog to run around the
on and so… I got very tired quickly and was loosing my mind because the dog had developed some type of attachment to me where she would not stop barking when she saw me until i acknowledged her. One day we decided to get our dog groomed and took her to pride and joy in Sherman oaks. I asked the owners son who he recommends to help me with my dog. The guy immediately said Jeff Todd and went on about how the dogs that Jeff train behave after his training. I was a bit skeptical because I knew very little about dogs/​dog trainers and what to look for. Anyway we decided to give Jeff a call, we met up a his home where he evaluated my dog and recommended we do session based training where we meet up with at the park and we train, this went on for a good two months. When i handled the dog things were sloppy and didnt meet my expectations. At these sessions Jeff would take control and work my dog. This guy knows what he is talking about. As soon as he took the leash from me and worked the dog i was able to see a different behavior from my dog. At this point it was known that my dog needed a different level of training and I needed to get my leash handling down to be perfect.
At this point my wife and i decided to send the dog to on board puppy training with Jeff. My dog was with Jeff for two weeks. Linda is now doing sit, down, stay and heel with no problem. She does not run around the house anymore, we have taught her «go to your place» and stay. I very satisfied with Jeff’s work and mentoring that i would without a doubt recommend him to anyone. I believe in Jeff;s methods so much and recently my wife brought home a Pomeranian rescue that is now boarding with Jeff. Cant wait to see the results.

After reading some of the reviews here, my wife and I decided to give Jeff Todd a shot at training our puppy. Things went all right for a short time. But after about six weeks, leaving our beautiful puppy with Jeff, we met at the park and started training with Jeff, us, and our dog all together. Jeff did not tell us that our dog was severely emaciated. he simply went on with the training as if nothing was wrong at all. When I stopped the training to point out that out gorgeous radiant Weimeraner puppy looked like he was starving… Jeff said, «well, I didn’t make the dog.» Now, let’s be clear here. This was a 4 – 5 month old stunning, vitally beautiful puppy. Jeff could not care less. Jeff was bizarrely cold and shockingly dismissive of our puppy’s condition, even though the dog had lived exclusively at Jeff’s training facility for weeks! At no time did Jeff tell us the dog was wasting away. Not one phone call or a single comment. We stopped training and took the dog to our veterinarian. Everyone in the office gasped at this poor dogs ribcage and dull, wasting coat. To a person, we were asked, «what happened to your dog!?» The vet wrote a letter describing the dog as emaciated, and we called jeff to tell him we wanted to stop our training. Jeff was again, shockingly cold and dismissive, repeating his bizarre comment, «Hey, I didn’t make the dog!» He took absolutely no responsibility what-​so-​ever for the dogs condition, nor any apology or concern or regret about not calling or alerting us to the poor puppy’s condition. It was a nightmare. It was only after all of this, that we reflected on everything, and how it went from the start. Jeff’s facilities are in his house, in the back yard. I remember first seeing the facilities and thinking, wow, this is pretty ‘minimal’. Cold and kind of, well, dirty. He put our dog in a crate, and said that’s it for tonight. We told Jeff that the puppy usually eats one more time by our schedule. «Nah, Jeff said, that dog ain’t eatin’ any more tonight.» Again, we thought oh well, we must be stupid and Jeff must know what he’s doing. We should have followed our instincts, but we have young children and busy lives and we just wanted out puppy to be trained. It was one of the saddest and most emotionally draining episodes of our lives. But all the Unilocal reviews convinced us he must be great. Nothing in the world could be more un true. Jeff is a very weird guy, to say the least. My wife and I were stunned at his complete and total failure to even acknowledge that he should have – at least! – called us to report the dog’s condition. But to Jeff, that was too much to even ask, because he didn’t ‘make the dog. We hoped our nightmare was over, but Jeff Todd is now actually trying to SUE US – for his lowly balance of fees. Be very wary of this man. And never sign his contract, which he was so proud, was ‘un-​cancellable.’ Looking forward to telling everyone I know, as well as every vet we have ever gone to, about Jeff Todd’s Smart Dogs.

Jeff is great. I have a small Yorkie. I was very nervous about sending him away for training especially because he is only 4 pounds. BUT — he was a terror. Non stop barking, no tolerance for sitting, staying, laying down. He would go to the bathroom wherever and whenever he wanted.
After speaking with Jeff and understanding that he works with dogs of all sizse, I met him and was able to see him working with one of the dogs he was currently training. I was also able to meet the owner of that dog and was told that the dog was completely changed and she couldn’t have been more pleased.
I felt the same way when Jeff gave my dog back. He was extremely obedient and Jeff had done a wonderful job. Its been 4 months and my dog is still extremely familiar with all of the commands Jeff taugh him.
Thanks Jeff! — You should definilty use him

We contacted Jeff three weeks after bringing home our chocolate lab puppy. We quickly realized we were in over our heads with two kids and now two dogs. In those three short weeks our loving little puppy turned our lives and home upside down. Jeff came to the rescue! He is extremely practical and has worked closely with us to fit our new puppy into our lifestyle and not the other way around. We have reclaimed our home and no longer have a doggie daycare in our living room and no doggie accidents in the house either. Our pup stayed with Jeff for a few weeks where she learned some basic skills. We continue to meet regularly with Jeff to train (both the pup as well as ourselves) and trouble shoot any issues that come up. We now have a very manageable 6 month old puppy, clean carpet, and not a single item has fallen victim to puppy teeth! Give Jeff a call before you bring home a new dog to get started off on the right path from day one!

We purchased a very cute Havanese puppy a couple of years back. Having been around dogs all my life, I thought it would be no trouble training him. Turns out, this very cute puppy was also very stubborn and difficult. After trying for a few months on our own, we came across Jeff. He has a couple of different approaches you can choose from, but we chose to have our puppy live with Jeff for several weeks, as this is the most reliable and shortest approach. When Sammy was ready to come back home, he was a different dog.
We continue to be in regular touch with Jeff and he continues to be a great coach for us and Sammy. If you are looking for assistance with your dog, we do recommend you consider Jeff.

We have a very loving but very high strung standard poodle who had taken to lunging at anyone who came near our baby (which did not make for very relaxing Starbucks/​frozen yogurt outings!). We also had some other problems with him, like excessive barking and running into the street. We found out about Smart Dogs through another onsite listing and called the owner, Jeff Todd. Jeff is a very cool guy — patient, reliable, knowledgeable, experienced, etc. (And he’s not mean to the dogs he’s training!) After working with him for a few weeks our dog’s behavior greatly improved! We had read countless books but didn’t get positive results. Highly recommended.